![]() ![]() Not only is Kucherov the team's best player, he is among the top five players in the game. If he can make one good postseason run, his name will be engrave on the Stanley Cup. Where Stamkos needs to make a real difference is in the playoffs. But if Stamkos can continue to chip in with 25 goals or so a season, the Lightning will be satisfied, especially with Nikita Kucherov and the emergence of Brayden Point to carry the offensive load. What's next: The days of being a 40-goal guy likely are over for Stamkos at this point. Key stat: In six Game 7s in his career, Stamkos has zero points. And he remains one of the game's great leaders on and off the ice.īut this season will go a long way in telling which way Stamkos' career is headed. His 15 power-play goals, many the product of his wicked one-timer, were tied for third in the league. Stamkos remains deadly on the power play. ![]() Now it’s about getting our systems in play and making sure everybody’s getting the rust off here.So, how do you judge last season? Just a slight off season by a player who has always put up huge numbers? Or the beginning of a slight decline in a player who has played 10 hard seasons with serious injuries and illnesses? ![]() We as coaches have just got to make sure, is our compete level high? Are guys working and they are. … Everybody’s getting something different out of it. But the guys should start taking advantage of every time they’re on the ice. Another good week of practice here, two exhibition game against Florida, who’s a heck of a team, so that’ll be a good test.”Īdded Cooper: “We’ve got a couple big games here left and we’ll see how this all plays out. “We’re down to one group now and getting closer to the opening-night roster so that definitely elevates camp,” said forward Brayden Point. The remaining preseason games are valuable for the veterans to get their timing, speed and physicality back. Defenseman Nick Perbix also remains on the roster. And the final forward positions could come from the group of Alex Barre-Boulet, Gabriel Fortier and Gemel Smith - all wearing gray jerseys Sunday - depending on how many forwards the team is able to carry given the salary cap. If the blue jersey that forward Cole Koepke was wearing Sunday was any indication, he is in line to earn a roster spot. The Lightning have two more preseason games, Thursday in Sunrise and Saturday at home against the Panthers, to decide the last few roster spots. Related: Lightning’s Cole Koepke proving to be quick study as he tries to crack roster “We’re in a different situation than everybody else in the league, but this is part of who we are and where we live and the community we’re in and we’re going to do everything we can on the ice to help everybody and off the ice as well.” It’s still in everybody’s minds, but we somehow have to find a way to focus on our jobs. “It’s upsetting to see what’s going on just south of us, what could have happened to us, but what’s actually gone on down there. “We’re all extremely fortunate,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. They watched from afar as Ian, which was originally projected to hit Tampa Bay, demolished parts of southwest Florida upon landfall as a Category 4 storm. So to get the family out and be together with them during this time was obviously the only important thing.” ![]() But furniture and stuff like, it’s material. The material stuff, I was able to bring a few things that you can’t really replace like the (Stanley Cup) rings and stuff like that. “I think for every single one of us, it was to bring everyone. “I wouldn’t have left without (family and pets) that was the bottom line,” Hedman said. The team stayed at the colossal Gaylord Opryland Resort, which has numerous restaurants and a waterpark onsite, helping the families adjust to an unfamiliar place. Many last-minute adjustments had to be made over the past week, and the Predators were gracious hosts in providing the Lightning ice time in Nashville. ![]()
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